Hydroponic Roof Gutter System

ABSTRACT

This is a roof drainage gutter system that is utilized as a hydroponic growth conduit, where the plant media growth extends over the roof providing shade and a form of insulation for the building. The system serves as a form of green roofing that does not require a soil medium to grow the plants and therefore does not require the additional structural components or costs. Existing roofs can easily be modified to accommodate this proposed system. The roof drainage system functions much like traditional gutter systems except for a designed volume of water is retained to provide a growth medium for the plants root systems. The gutters contain all the growth support mechanisms typically included in a traditional hydroponics system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a form of green roofing. Green roofing is a method ofconstruction of roofing via materials and design that allows for moreefficient building and lower utility costs. Traditional green roofingmethods involve a soil medium to allow for growth of plant material,which in turn provides insulation. The soil adds weight, which requiresadditional structural support. The structural requirements fortraditional green roofing incur additional cost and are prohibitive toapplication on existing buildings.

Hydroponic principals are utilized for the invention. Hydroponics is amethod of growing plant matter without the use of soils. Plants areusually applied in a container with the root system suspended in a watermedium.

The invention involves a combination of these two technologies, alongwith a modification of existing roof gutter designs, to provide a formof green roofing that can be constructed on buildings in a manner thathas yet to be applied.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is a modified gutter system that incorporates traditionalhydroponic principles allowing growth of an organic medium onto thebuilding roof, thus providing shade and a layer of insulation for thebuilding.

The building's proposed gutter system, generally located around theperimeter of the roof, is designed with the downspout entrance elevatedso to retain water and a top lid or cover with port holes to allowinginstallation of plant modules and the accompanying plants. This allowsthe plant material to grow utilizing traditional hydroponic methods.This method of green roofing requires little additional structuralrequirements for the building, and can be retro-fitted onto existingroofs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the system with the following componentsnoted;

-   -   (1) Roof gutter conduit    -   (2) Top hole and plant housing module    -   (3) Plant media to grow onto roof    -   (4) Downspout piping

FIG. 2 is a profile view of the gutter system taken at the location andorientation noted in FIG. 1 with the following components noted;

-   -   (1) Roof gutter conduit    -   (2) Top hole and plant housing module    -   (3) Plant media to grow onto roof    -   (4) Downspout piping    -   (5) Static water level    -   (6) Plant root media

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system is composed of traditional roof gutter drainage equipment, along narrow channel with a rectangular or semi-circular cross sectioncomposed of metal of plastic, with some additional parts andmodifications to allow for growth of the plant media. The gutter itselfwould require a lid with holes and housing to accommodate the plants andinhibit sunlight from reaching the root system. The gutter downspoutentrance is elevated to retain a specific amount of water. The waterretained in gutters serves as the growth medium for the plant roots. Thegutter system still operates in its intended manner, capturing anddirecting rainwater to downspouts that discharge the water to the groundor off-site. Discharge would only occur when the rainfall directed tothe gutters exceeded the designed retention volume. Additionalstructural requirements would be required to account for the weightadded by the water retained in the gutters.

The gutters are effectively a hydroponics growth system. Thus, thegutters would require all the appurtenances that accompany such systemsto enable the growth of the plant media. This may include but is notlimited to, water pumps, submerged air diffusers, supplemental watersupply, supplemental nutrient supply and submerged water heaters. A formof trellis or lattice may be required to be installed parallel to theroof to encourage growth directionally.

The system is intended to grow plant media over the roof, thus absorbingthe radiation from the sunlight and providing an additional form ofinsulation, in turn helping to cool the interior and reduce utilitycosts. The system is most effective when implemented in warm climates.

I claim:
 1. A roof drainage gutter system that is utilized as ahydroponic growth conduit, where the plant media growth extends over theroof providing a form of insulation. The system comprising of; A conduitaround the perimeter or portions of the perimeter of the roof, orsurrounding an interior drain, with a rectangular or semi-circular crosssection that is comprised of metal or plastic walls, bottom and topcover. A plurality of holes in the top cover with accompanying plantsupporting modules and plants. All the growth support mechanismstypically included in a traditional hydroponics system, including butnot limited to water pumps, submerged air diffusers, supplemental watersupply, supplemental nutrient supply and submerged water heaters, someof which may be automated. An elevated discharge outlet pipe, designedto retain a pre-determined volume of water. A lattice system toencourage directional growth of plant media.
 2. The hydroponic system ofclaim 1, whereas provides a form of green roofing which does not requirethe use or installation of soils to promote plant growth.
 3. Thehydroponic system of claim 1, whereas a modification of existing roofdrain gutters to provide a medium for growth of plant material.
 4. Thehydroponic system of claim 1, whereas the gutter system providesretention, partial treatment, conveyance and discharge of accumulatedrainfall.